The Analogue 3D does a great job at upscaling old N64 games, with a few caveats. Marketing is almost always a tad disingenuous, and Analogue's FPGA-based recreation of the Nintendo 64 is no exception. While the Analogue 3D does indeed output 4K video, it's not magically turning retro games into native 4K creations. The console's HDMI signal can reach 3,840 x 2,160 pixels on a compatible TV, while most original N64 games were rendered at significantly lower resolutions, commonly around 320 x 240.

In terms of literal output resolution, the Analogue 3D is a 4K console, but it's not capable of adding detailed textures, geometry or animation that developers couldn't cram into a mid-90s cartridge. The console eliminates the N64's famously blurry textures, distance fog and uneven frame rates. Its 4K HDMI output and customizable Original Display Modes are designed to make games look crisp and clear on today's TVs.

The Analogue 3D utilizes a form of scaling, much like the upscaling smart TVs have used for years. It can remove the original system's blur filter, preserve its 32-bit color, adjust texture filtering and anti-aliasing and (optionally) double a game's horizontal resolution. The console then outputs that processed image through a 4K HDMI signal. It's all about the presentation, and a 4K output makes the signal cleaner and more stable for current TV displays.

If you're holding onto some original N64 cartridges and want a much more polished means to play them on a 4K TV, the Analogue 3D is tough to beat at $250. It's designed for physical N64 media, works with the original controllers and accessories, is region-free and includes four controller ports. The Analogue 3D uses an FPGA, a programmable chip that's configured to reproduce the N64's original operation.